MINOT, N.D.—A Minot event planner is being represented by North Dakota's Democrat-NPL candidate for attorney general in her court battle with the Republican-led attorney general's office.

Grand Forks attorney David Thompson, who is challenging Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem in the November election, last week asked North Central District Judge Doug Mattson for a pretrial conference for Terpsehore Maras Lindeman. Lindeman previously had been acting as her own counsel.

The case began last January, when the Attorney General's Office asked the court to compel Lindeman to provide information related to her organization of "A Magic City Christmas," which was to have been held in December 2017. The attorney general says it is investigating Lindeman for consumer fraud in connection with the event, alleging she failed to register as a professional fundraiser and misspent donations.

Lindeman has stated she is not required under law to register and did not receive donations other than qualified reimbursements. She accuses the attorney general of wrongly opening an investigation without a consumer complaint.

Mattson sided with the Attorney General's Office and on March 1 granted the order to compel information from Lindeman.

At the most recent hearing, Mattson found Lindeman in contempt of court and ordered her to produce certain requested information.

Also, in July, the state filed a new case against Lindeman, accusing her of failing to register as a charitable organization or professional fundraiser and using deceptive practices in advertising and fundraising. The state seeks to recover losses suffered by consumers along with its costs and attorney fees and asks for a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for each violation.